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Smoak smokes first Major League homer

Smoak smokes first Major League homer

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ARLINGTON -- Justin Smoak is glad to have his first Major League home run out of the way.

The moment came in the bottom of the fourth Thursday when Smoak crushed a drive 410 feet into the home run porch in right field at Rangers Ballpark for a 3-1 lead. He hit it off White Sox starter Gavin Floyd on a fastball, middle in.

"It feels great," Smoak said. "It's a good moment. It's good to get it over with."

Smoak's first homer was a by-product of productive at-bats despite entering Thursday's game 1-for-15 to begin his Major League career. Smoak saw an average of five pitches per at-bat in Wednesday's 6-5 win.

His homer came on a 1-0 pitch, but willingness to take a walk -- he already has seven -- set the tone for Thursday's 2-for-4 performance that included an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth.